Chapter 481: What a Coincidence [Many Thanks! Bowing Again! 39k Words Owed]

In the rear courtyard of Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu,

inside the main hall,

"In that case, with the Old Lady of the Sheng family's eldest branch presiding, let us dissolve Miss Sheng Shulan's marriage contract."

After Sun Shi finished speaking, she looked at Wu Da Da Niangzi.

Wu Da Da Niangzi held her tea cup thoughtfully, listening as she nodded gently to Sun Shi: "If so, we must first find a husband for this Miss Sheng Shulan?"

"Exactly!"

Wu Da Da Niangzi said: "Let me think about it."

After a while,

Wu Da Da Niangzi shook her head and said: "Sister, my mind is mostly filled with the noble families and official households of Bianjing; given the situation of the Sheng family's eldest branch, I truly cannot think of a suitable match off the top of my head."

"If the Sheng family is not in a hurry, I can make more inquiries and keep an eye out over the coming days."

Sun Shi smiled and nodded, saying: "Then I thank you, Sister."

Wu Da Da Niangzi looked at Sun Shi with a smile and said: "We are sisters; why speak of thanks!"

"Sister, now that your Little Five has reached the age for betrothal, families in the capital with daughters come to me now and then to inquire about him!"

"They are all good families; shall I tell you about them?"

Sun Shi felt somewhat embarrassed and said: "Sister, please do not speak of it yet; I fear I shall be spoiled for choice! Besides, if Jing-ge'er fails in the imperial examinations, would that not delay that young lady's future?"

Wu Da Da Niangzi huffed and set her tea cup down firmly on the table, saying: "Sister, with Jing-ge'er's merits and abilities, if he cannot become a civil official, can he not become a general? We noble families have hereditary titles, after all."

Sun Shi, thinking of something, sighed with some worry.

"Why are you sighing, Sister?"

Wu Da Da Niangzi asked curiously.

Sun Shi glanced at Mama Zhu beside her.

Mama Zhu understood immediately; with a wave of her hand, she dismissed the serving maids in the hall to the outside.

Wu Da Da Niangzi watched the maids leave, then gave a meaningful glance to Mama Jin beside her; Mama Jin nodded solemnly, indicating that whatever the two ladies said next, she would pretend not to have heard.

Once only their personal mamas remained in the hall,

Wu Da Da Niangzi looked at Sun Shi with some tension: "What is wrong? Has your Little Five... caused trouble?"

Sun Shi shook her head and said: "Sister, Little Five is already eighteen by nominal age, yet the maids in his quarters still..."

Wu Da Da Niangzi relaxed entirely, rolled her eyes at Sun Shi with some disdain, and said: "I thought something serious was the matter! Sister, are you not like a Monk shouting 'Baldy'?"

Sun Shi said: "Sister, I... I am truly worried."

"Your Little Five is such a good child; why is there still an issue in your eyes? Would you only be happy if he were like my Han-ge'er?"

Sun Shi looked at Wu Da Da Niangzi and said: "No! It is mainly that at Little Five's age..."

Wu Da Da Niangzi tapped Sun Shi with her index finger and said with some admiration:

"When your Little Five could drag himself out of his warm bed to practice martial arts and attend school early even during the deepest winter when the ground was frozen three feet thick, what do those families you mentioned matter in comparison?"

"If my Liu Lang had even half of Jing-ge'er's perseverance, I would burn high incense in gratitude!"

Thinking of something, Wu Da Da Niangzi shook her head with some sorrow.

But Wu Da Da Niangzi quickly adjusted her mood and said: "In a few months will be Your Majesty's milestone birthday; have you prepared your tribute gift?"

Sun Shi nodded: "Earlier, Little Five mentioned it a few times to his father; according to the Marquis, Little Five is currently preparing it."

Wu Da Da Niangzi said: "When Jing-ge'er was young, he performed horseback archery before Your Majesty; today it feels as if that happened just yesterday! Yet the children have already grown so large."

"Indeed~"

Afternoon.

Yichun Lane.

It was summer, not yet the season for making peach-wood charms and New Year paintings, so the lane was not busy.

Many commoners living in the lane sat under the trees to escape the heat.

When they saw a procession of cavalry, Wei Xiao guards, and carriages enter the mouth of the lane,

the residents cooling off hurriedly moved their folding stools and benches to the roadside to make way.

Before long,

the procession of carriages and horses stopped before a certain entrance,

drawing the attention of the commoners.

The two riders leading the carriage dismounted and turned sideways.

From the carriage in the middle of the cavalry escort, two women, one tall and one small, both wearing veils, stepped down.

"Yang Yang Xingshou, we have troubled you these past days."

Di Jing stood beside Zhu Zhu Qinghu, cupped his fists, and spoke.

Sister Sister Luoyou, wearing a veil and holding her pipa, bowed gracefully: "Gao Gao Yuhou is too polite! For this humble woman to observe the military drills beside the great camp is a tremendous honor!"

Zhu Zhu Qinghu smiled and said: "I wonder how long it will be before we can hear the music you compose?"

Sister Sister Luoyou's eyes behind the veil curved slightly as she said: "Lord Zhu, the Fifth Young Master of the Hou Fu has many requirements for the piece, but the musicians have already mastered it; after I invite a few experts to revise it over the next two days, you will be able to hear it before June."

Zhu Zhu Qinghu and Di Jing exchanged a glance, then looked at Sister Sister Luoyou and said: "In that case, we shall have more than two months."

"Good; then I shall bring this good news to the Fifth Young Master."

Sister Sister Luoyou nodded gently.

"Then, Yang Yang Xingshou, we two shall take our leave!"

Sister Sister Luoyou hastily bowed again, watching as the procession of carriages and horses departed toward the outside of the lane.

Little Zhiyue, who stood beside Sister Sister Luoyou holding a drum, had grown much taller; looking at Zhu Zhu Qinghu and Di Jing, who had stopped their horses nearby to speak with the local elder, she said: "Master, they are speaking with the Lizheng."

"Mm, the two lords are worried about our safety. Come inside!"

The next day,

At the end of the hour of Wu (1:00 PM),

The blazing sun shone high,

The temperature rose,

In the Chai family's

Autumn Sounds Courtyard,

Within the cool side hall,

Chai Chai Zhengzheng, clad in gauze, leaned against the chair back, leisurely reading a trivial book.

The maid Miss Yun Mu entered carrying a platter of sliced peaches.

Setting the fruit platter on the table and watching Chai Chai Zhengzheng reach out to take a peach, Miss Yun Mu said, "Miss, word just came from outside; Wei Yang Xingshou requests permission to suspend performances for the next few days."

The fruit paused at her lips; Chai Chai Zhengzheng asked, "What is the matter?"

"It is said that Wei Yang Xingshou's master, Master Tang, has invited her to Master Yang's residence to study musical scores for compensation."

Chai Chai Zhengzheng took a bite of the peach, nodded, and said, "Compensation? Post a notice in the shop; if she wishes to go, let her go. Deduct the lost earnings from her monthly allowance."

Miss Yun Mu nodded: "Yes, Miss!"

Having spoken, Miss Yun Mu turned and walked outward.

Having taken only two steps, Chai Chai Zhengzheng swallowed the peach flesh and said, "By the way, which family has such grandeur, daring to invite her?"

Miss Yun Mu halted her steps, thought for a moment, and said, "I heard it was the household of Viscount Zhu that issued the invitation."

Chai Chai Zhengzheng suddenly sat up straight: "The Zhu family?"

"Yes! I heard people say that previously, a Yang Xingshou composed a piece for the old lord of the Zhu family, which was all the rage in Bianjing at the time!"

"Mm, once she finishes studying the musical scores, summon her to the courtyard to see me!"

"Yes."

Chai Chai Zhengzheng ate the remaining peach flesh in one bite and continued, "As for the lost earnings, deduct only half."

After Miss Yun Mu assented once more, she turned and departed.

That evening,

The scent of mosquito-repelling incense drifted through the main hall of Autumn Sounds Courtyard.

Chai Chai Zhengzheng sat behind the desk,

In the open space before the desk,

Wei Wei Fangzhi, dressed in plain, unadorned clothes, sat upon an embroidered stool embracing a pipa and performing.

Once the piece concluded,

Chai Chai Zhengzheng, behind the desk, asked in puzzlement, "Just these?"

Wei Wei Fangzhi stood up: "Replying to Miss, just these! Among them are some large drums and horns, which this slave cannot perform."

"As for the lyrics, do you know when he will finish composing them?"

Wei Wei Fangzhi shook her head: "This slave does not yet know, but hearing Senior Yang speak, the day should be soon."

"Once the melody and lyrics are finalized, perform and sing them for me first so I may see; do you understand?"

"This slave understands, but..."

Speaking thus, Wei Wei Fangzhi raised her head to glance at the master of the house behind the desk.

"Whatever words you have, just speak them."

"But, Senior Yang said this song is meant to be sung by men of the military; this slave fears she cannot capture its flavor and might defile the lyrics and melody."

Chai Chai Zhengzheng thought for a moment and said, "In that case, simply perform the music."

"Yes."

Time passed,

It had already reached early June,

Seasonal fruits on the market became even more abundant,

Yet the atmosphere in the Sheng family academy gradually grew tense,

After all, there were only two months left until the provincial examinations.

Early in the morning,

Xu Xu Zaijing rode his small black foal along the streets of Bianjing.

Listening to the hawking cries from the surrounding streets and smelling the scents, fragrant or foul, that drifted by from time to time, Xu Xu Zaijing yawned.

"Young Master, someone ahead is waving at us."

"Mm?"

Xu Xu Zaijing looked in the direction Brother Qingyun pointed and saw a brother and sister standing to the side, their arms embracing a large bouquet of lotus flowers still in bud.

As Xu Xu Zaijing and his party drew near,

The siblings holding the lotuses hurriedly bowed deeply and said with smiles, "Young Master, Young Master, please look at our freshly picked lotuses; among them is even a pair of twin blossoms on a single stem!"

Brother Qingyun dismounted to the side, looked at the boy covered in mud and water, and said with a smile, "It's you reckless siblings again! Don't try to deceive us with thread-sewn fakes, or else..."

The boy hurriedly shook his head: "We would not; we might deceive anyone, but never you!"

The younger girl beside him said, "Big Brother, we do not deceive people."

Hearing the girl's words, Brother Qingyun looked at the girl's face, then nodded, saying, "Let me inspect the quality of the lotuses."

On the street,

Seeing Xu Xu Zaijing's party of lavish carriages and horses come to a halt,

It attracted quite a number of residents, passersby, grannies, and maids who had come out early to buy breakfast.

In a short while,

Xu Xu Zaijing and Brother Qingyun rode away from there on horseback.

In the hands of the brother and sister selling unopened lotus buds, the 'merchandise' had decreased by more than half.

Then, it was sold out very quickly.

This place was not far from the Sheng family,

Xu Xu Zaijing looked at Brother Qingyun curiously and asked, "What's wrong? You keep looking back at them. Did you buy fake goods?"

Saying this, Xu Xu Zaijing looked at the lotus flower in his hand.

Brother Qingyun shook his head and said, "No, Young Master. It's just that I feel that little girl resembles Sixth Miss somewhat."

Xu Xu Zaijing was stunned: "Like Minglan?"

Brother Qingyun nodded: "I can't say exactly where the resemblance lies, but it's just a feeling."

Xu Xu Zaijing had been looking at the lotus flowers his brother had presented to him just now and hadn't noticed that little girl.

Turning back to look at the brother and sister surrounded by people buying flowers, Xu Xu Zaijing said, "Ask their names next time we meet."

After speaking, Xu Xu Zaijing thought to himself: "Could this be such a coincidence?"

Sheng family,

Weirui Hall,

Mother Liu carefully brought in a light-colored, slender porcelain vase holding unopened twin lotus flowers: "Da Da Niangzi, where would you like these flowers placed?"

Wang Wang Wang Ruofu looked at the unopened lotus flowers with great liking: "Just place them on the incense table!"

"Yes."

Saying this, Mother Liu placed the porcelain vase on the incense table, which hung a painting of three immortals.

To be honest,

once these unopened lotus flowers were placed there, the hanging painting and incense table suddenly acquired an elegant, Zen-like atmosphere by contrast.

Mother Liu walked over to Wang Wang Wang Ruofu's side. The two looked at this scene together. Wang Wang Wang Ruofu said, "Sigh, how many times have the maids gone out to buy things? They have never once managed to buy these twin lotus flowers!"

"It still depends on Young Master Jing, doesn't it? Didn't he gift these twin lotus flowers once last year?"

Mother Liu nodded: "It seems the first time was a fake made of thread, and the second time was naturally grown just like this one! But both were beautiful."

"Hoping that Bo'er can pass the provincial examination this time, so I can put down a big stone in my heart."

Saying this, Wang Wang Wang Ruofu walked to the incense table, took three sticks of incense from the incense tube, lit them, and inserted them into the incense burner.

The mistress and servant knelt on the cushion, clasped their hands together, and prayed devoutly.

After the prayer was finished,

Wang Wang Wang Ruofu stood up with Mother Liu's support. As she walked outside, Wang Wang Wang Ruofu said, "Tell me, did the Old Lady send me these twin lotus flowers given by Young Master Jing to indicate she has forgiven my mistakes?"

Mother Liu turned back to look at the incense table, lowered her head, and said, "Da Da Niangzi, this servant thinks the Old Lady might not mean that."

Wang Wang Wang Ruofu sighed with some regret.

Mother Liu continued: "Da Da Niangzi, actually, although Wei Wei Xiaoniang manages the household now, the work is still done by me and Mother Cui. Whatever matters arise, decisions are only made after consulting you and the Old Lady. Speaking of it, it is quite good."

Wang Wang Wang Ruofu tilted her head, thought for a moment, then nodded: "Mm, she is sensible. She is far better than that fox-spirit in Linqi Pavilion."

The two walked into the main hall,

and after Wang Wang Wang Ruofu sat down, she raised her eyebrows: "Tell me, how did Wei Wei Shuyi's younger sister from her natal family find such a good job with the Bai family? I heard her monthly allowance is quite substantial?"

Mother Liu nodded: "They say she manages a salt warehouse in the city. How could the monthly allowance be lacking! The family that delivers salt to the Feng family is under her management. I heard the salt price was reduced quite a bit! The Feng family knows about this connection; otherwise, when looking at fabrics at the Feng family before, they wouldn't have spoken so many good words to you!"

Wang Wang Wang Ruofu said with a look of pride: "Isn't it just that matter of salt? What is there to talk about!"

"Da Da Niangzi, the Feng family has so many people too. Buying salt every month costs a lot of money. I also heard a mother from the Feng family say that the girl who married into the Changxing Hou Fu family as the Second Da Da Niangzi is also preparing to have this salt warehouse deliver salt to her family."

Saying this, Mother Liu took the tea cup from Caihuan's hand.

Wang Wang Wang Ruofu looked at Mother Liu in surprise: "There is such a thing? I really didn't see it coming. This Wei family aunt really knows how to do business."

After taking a sip of tea,

Wang Wang Wang Ruofu said puzzledly: "Tell me, regarding Sheng Shulan's matter, will the Feng family take it to heart?"

Mother Liu held her handkerchief and said with a smile: "Da Da Niangzi, you are not Wei Wei Yima Kang. We did not throw a tantrum and demand the jade carved Granting Guanyin that belonged to your sister-in-law's dowry."

"Previously, when the two Hou Fu families, the Jinghai Marquis and the Ruyang Marquis, had major incidents, it was our family that notified them. By the principle of reciprocity, they should also take it to heart."

Hearing Mother Liu's words, Wang Wang Wang Ruofu's expression of pride seemed about to overflow. She smiled, curling her lips, and said: "That is true! When there is trouble, one still has to look to our family!"

"Da Da Niangzi, after this incident, I see that Li Wu Da Da Niangzi has also extinguished her spirit of competing with you."

Wang Wang Wang Ruofu curled her lips: "Hmph!"

In the following days,

Xu Xu Zaijing paid more attention to the roadside when going to school,

but that pair of flower-selling brother and sister never appeared.

The next time he saw the brother and sister, it was already mid-June.

On this day,

in the crowd,

Brother Qingyun stood beside his mount, looking at the twin lotus flower in his hand with disbelief. Then he took two steps and handed it to Xu Xu Zaijing.

Behind,

Hua Xiang, sitting in the carriage, curiously lifted the carriage curtain.

After carefully examining the unopened lotus flower in his hand, Xu Xu Zaijing dismounted and handed the lotus flower to Hua Xiang inside the carriage.

Afterwards, Xu Xu Zaijing walked up to the brother and sister, who wore happy expressions, and said: "I say, how do you always manage to find these twin lotus flowers?"

To be honest, they have some skill.

"My brother searches pond by pond."

The younger sister standing nearby said.

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled as he looked at this little girl, then exchanged a glance with Brother Qingyun: This girl did indeed resemble Minglan somewhat, especially her eyes.

"I have bought lotus flowers from you several times, yet I never asked what you two siblings are named."

Hearing Xu Xu Zaijing's question,

the siblings, who smiled brightly and whose skin had been tanned dark by the sun, exchanged a glance.

The brother, holding the lotus flowers, smiled and said, "Young Master, my name is Tan Xiao, and my younger sister is Tan Yun."

Xu Xu Zaijing was slightly stunned: Tan Yun... Tan Yun...

Looking at the smiling siblings, he turned his head and said, "Brother Qingyun, let these two go to your wife's shop."

A smile rose on Brother Qingyun's face; he cupped his hands and said happily, "Yes, Young Master!"

Previously, when Brother Qingyun's Da Da Niangzi was pregnant, Brother Qingyun, having experienced the bitter days of wandering and begging, had wondered how these siblings were faring.

Hearing these words, the siblings stood stunned, looking at Xu Xu Zaijing in disbelief.

"In the future, during summer, you two will find these lotus flowers for this Young Master, shall we?"

Behind Xu Xu Zaijing, Brother Qingyun kept winking, signaling the siblings to nod.

"You two really have green smoke rising from your ancestral grave!"

"You two foolish children, nod quickly!"

Some commoners watching the spectacle shouted from the side.

Seeing the smile on Xu Xu Zaijing's face,

the two siblings nodded forcefully.

(End of Chapter)